Crosslinking polymeric dye mordants

ABSTRACT

A dye mordant composition comprises the reaction product of (1) a vinyl copolymer derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising first and second repeating units wherein at least one third of the units are first repeating units represented by the formula:   WHEREIN R1 and R2 are hydrogen or alkyl and R2 may be a group containing at least one aromatic nucleus; Q is a divalent radical, R3, R4 and R5 are alkyl or aryl and R3 and R4 along with the nitrogen atom and Q may form a quaternized heterocyclic ring, and X is an anion and the second repeating units are free of acidic carboxyl groups; and (2) a vinyl polymer crosslinking agent for the copolymer comprising a bisalkane sulfonate or bisarene sulfonate. These compositions are useful as dye mordants in photographic elements.

Burness et al.

[ Jan. 7, 1975 CROSSLINKING POLYMERIC DYE MORDANTS A [75] inventors: Donald M. Burness; Hans G. Ling,

both of Rochester; Glen M. Dappen, I

Webster, all of NY.

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company,

Rochester, NY.

[22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 412,992

[52] US. Cl 96/84 A, 96/67, 96/114 [51] Int. Cl G03c 1/84 [58] Fieldof Search 96/84 R, 84 A, 114, 67;

260/78 SC, 94.96 A, 94.96 B, 78 ST, 80.3 N,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,507,659 4/1970 Merriam et al 96/l l4 3,518,086 6/1970 Millard 96/114 Nishio et al 96/114 .Cohen et al. 96/84 A Primary Examiner-Norman G. Torchin Assistant Examiner-Edward C. Kimlin Attorney, Agent, or FirmA. H. Rosenstein [57] ABSTRACT A dye mordant composition comprises the reaction product of (l) a vinyl copolymer derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising first and second repeating units wherein at least one third of the units are first repeating units represented by the formula:

11 Claims, No Drawings 1 CROSSLI NKING POLYMERIC DYE MORDANTS The .present invention relates to the modification of polymeric dye mordants adopted for use in photographic products and to photographic processes using such products.

It is known .in the photographic art to use various polymeric materials as mordants in imbibition printing and in color photographic products to prevent the migration of dyes. Among the mordants employed are polymers containing acid salts such as are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,048,487 :and 3,184,309 both to Hyman L. Cohen and Louis M. Minsk. Mordants of these types exhibit good dye retention under certain conditions. Frequently, the mordants are stored in a blank which is contacted with the matrix. However, these mordants can diffuse out of the blanks in which they are used and into the matrix when contacted therewith. The result is that as repeated dye transferare made from a given matrix more mordant diffuses into the matrix, combines with some of the dye and is heldthere.

The mordant-dye complex formed in the dye storage matrix increases with successive transfers, finally reaching a point where it interferes with the transfer process so that satifactory images cannot be made. It thus becomes necessary .to subject the matrix to a special treatment between transfers thereby increasing the cost of the process. This special treatment, in addition to its cost, very often has a deleterious effect upon image quality-definition, .for example. Thus, it is desirable to provide a mordant :which is substantially free of matrix poisoning.

Among variouspolymers suggested as dye mordants .are those formed ,byquatemizinga polymer containing tertiary nitrogen atoms with analkylating or aralkylating agent, such as those described in Cohen .et al. U.S.

Pat. Nos. 3,625,694 and 3,709,690, issued Dec. 7,

1971 and Jan. 9, 1973, respectively.

The crosslinking of various hydrophilic colloids and binders in systems using dye mordants has been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,309,376 to Haas et al., issued Mar. 14, 1967, U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,089 to Haas .etal., issued Apr. 25, 1967, U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,158 to Carlson et al., issued Feb. 11, 1969 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,689,272 to Schwan et al., issued Sept. 5, 1972.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,816,125, issued Dec. 6, 1966, to Allen et al and U.S. Pat. No. 2,726,162, issued Dec. 10, 1957, to Allen et al. describe various crosslinking materials containing sulfonoxy groups.

Polymeric mordants show considerable differences in their properties, due to differences in molecular weight and degree of quaternization. Treatment of the mordant with a crosslinking agent compensates for these variations. Further, the gloss of prints made in a diffusion transfer process using receiver sheets containing crosslinked mordants is improved.

Therefore, it is an object of thisinvention to provide new mordant compositions.

It is another object of this invention to provide new compositions containing dye mordant polymers and bissulfonates as .crosslinking agents for use in photography. 6

it is still another object of this invention to provide photographic elements having mordanted images of in creased densities.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a new light-filtering layer coated from a composition comprising a hydrophilic colloid and a dye mordant composition.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a photographic element comprising a support, a silver halide layer and at least one layer comprising the composition of this invention.

, Still another object of this invention is to provide an integral negative receiver photographic element comprising a support having a layer contaiing the crosslinked polymeric mordant of this invention and at least one photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer of which has contiguous thereto a dye image-providing material.

These and other objects are accomplished in one aspect using a dye mordant composition comprising a copolymer derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers having one or more repeating units, said copolymer having at least one-third of the repeating units hav ing the formula:

R i i it 5.1

R ir R fi l wherein R and R are hydrogen or lower alkyl and R can additionally be a group containing at least one aromatic nucleus; Q is a divalent radical, R, R and R are lower alkyl or aryl groups or R and R and the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, can together with 0, represent the atoms and bonds necessary to form a quaternized nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring; and X is an anion; and wherein said copolymer is substantially free of acidic carboxy groups and a crosslinking agent for the copolymer comprising a'bisalkane or bisarene sulfonate having the formula:

RSO CH -YCH OSO -R wherein R is alkyl or aryl and Y is an unstaturated divalent radical.

The preferred polymers to be crosslinked according to this invention are those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,690 to Cohen et a1 and comprise units of the following formula in copolymerized relationship with units of at least one other ethylenically unsaturated monomer:

5 3 R -I\l"'-R 5 wherein r and R can each be hydrogen atoms, lower alkyl of Ho 6 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, and the like, and R can additionally be a group containing at least one aromatic nucleus, including substituted aryl, e.g., phenyl, tolyl, naphthyl, etc; Q can be a divalent alkylene such as ethylene, trimathylene, tetramethylene or the like; divalent arylene such as phenylene, biphenylene, naphthylene and the like; divalent aralkylene such as benzylidene, phenethylidene and the like; or divalent arylenealkylene radical such as or the like or radicals including:

2 9 I! -C-OR -O-C-R or -C-NH-R whereR*is an alkylene radical typically having 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as methylene, ethylene, propylene or butylene or R can be taken together with Q to form or a 3-pyridinium ring; and X- is an anion, i.e., a monovalent negative, salt-forming, ionic radical or atom such as a halide, alkyl sulfate, alkane or arene sulfonate (for example, a p-toluenesulfonate), dialkyl phosphate, or similar anionic moiety.

or a 4-pyridinium The copolymers of this invention comprise copoly-' mers of the above materials with other ethylenically unsaturated monomers wherein at least one-third of said polymer is comprised of units represented by the formula represented above. It is understood in the above formula that Q cannot be taken simultaneously with R R and R and that the copolymer be substantially free of acidic carboxyl groups.

- Typical ethylenically unsaturated monomers which can be used to form ethenic interpolymers including interpolymers containing, 2, 3 or more recurring units and the like according to this invention include ethylene, propylene, l-butene, isobutene, Z-methylpentene, Z-methylbutene, l, l ,4,4-tetramethylbutadiene, styrene, alphamethylsltyrene; monoethylenically unsaturated esters of aliphatic acids such as vinyl acetate, isopropenyl acetate, allyl acetate, etc; esters of ethylenically unsaturated mon oor dicarboxylic acids such as methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, diethyl methylenemalonate, etcymonoethylenically unsaturated compounds such as acrylonitrile, allyl cyanide, and dienes such as butadiene and isoprene. A preferred class of ethylenically unsaturated monomers which may be used to form the ethenic polymers of this invention includes the lower l-alkenes having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, styrene, and tetramethylbutadiene. The combination of vinyl polymers and ethylenically unsaturated monomers should be chosen so as to assure that the positive salt-forming moiety or radical of the resulting copolymer comprises at least two aromatic nuclei for each quaternary nitrogen atom in said polymer.

The polymers of the invention are water or methanol soluble polymers having a hydrocarbon backbone and are composed of recurring units supplying quaternized nitrogen atoms and having at least two aromatic nuclei, such as aryl groups, e.g., phenyl, pyridiniudm, etc. per quaternized nitrogen atom. The polymers should be substantially free of carboxyl groups, for the presence of carboxyl groups in the interpolymers interferes with effective dye mordanting.

It is understood that the aromatic nuclei can be located on any unit of the polymeric chain as long as there are two aromatic nuclei for each quaternized nitrogen atom in said polymer. In one preferred embodiment, at least one of R, R or R in the above formula contains an aromatic nucleus. The aromatic nuclei contain at least 6 carbon atoms, often 6-12 carbon atoms, and can be represented by the structure:

2)n' wherein A includes an aromatic nucleus which can be substituted, if desired, with non-interfering groups such as alkyl and nitro groups and n is an integer of 0 to 4. The aromatic nuclei of this invention contain at least one aryl group. Typical groups are phenyl, benzyl, naphthyl, phenethyl, phenylpropyl, naphthylmethyl, naphthylpropyl, biphenylyl, alkyl-substituted phenyls, and the like. In general, at least about one-third of the recurring units in the polymers which are good dye mordants contain quaternary nitrogen atoms.

The polymeric mordants of the invention are generally prepared by quaternizing an intermediate polymer having tertiary nitrogen atoms with an alkylating or aralkylating agent. The method of preparation of the intermediate polymer (hereinafter interpolymer) containing the tertiary nitrogen atoms 'for subsequent quaternization can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Anyof the methods known in the art, such as mass, solution, or head polymerization, as well as con-,

densation polymerization, can be used to prepare the intermediate polymers, and polymerization catalysts known to the art, such as ultraviolet light, peroxides, azo compounds (e.g., azobisisobutyronitrile), etc, can be employed.

It is often advantageous to prepare the intermediate polymers as derivedpolymers such as, for example, the styrenemaleimide polymers described in Cohen and Minsk U.S. Pat. No. 3,048,487, which are made by the reaction of a maleic anhydride interpolymer and a dialkylaminoalkylamine. Typical suitable intermediate polymers include copoly[styrene-N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)acrylamide], copoly[styrene-N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)maleimide], copoly(styrene-2-y dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate), copoly(styrene-4- vinylpyridine), copoly[2-vinylnaphthalene-N(3-dimethylaminopropyl)maleimide], cp0ly[4-vinylbiphenyl- N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)maleimide], copoly{styrene-l,1,4,4-tetramethylbutadiene-l-{2-(N,N-diethylamino)ethyl]maleimide} copoly{p-nitrostyrene-l- (N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)maleimide], copoly{omethylstyrene-l-[ 3-(N,N- dibutylamino)propyl]maleimide} copoly{2,4-

dichlorostyrene-N-[4-(N,N=dimethylamino)butyl]acrylamide} copoly{4-methylstyrene-N-[2-(N',N'- diethylamino)ethyl]-methacrylamide} copoly{styrene-N-[Z-(N',N'-dimethylamino)-ethyl]acrylamide} copoly {4-cyanostyrene-N-[ 2-( N',N '-dimethylamino )ethyHacryIamide} copoly{4-chlorostyrene-N-[2- (N',N'-dibenzylamino)ethyl]acrylamide} copoly{vinylbenzoatevinyl-a-(N,N-dimethylamino)acetate], copoly benzylacrylate-l-[3-(N,N-dimethylamino)- propyl]-maleimide} copoly{phenylacrylate-N-[Ii- (N,N'-diethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide} copoly {Z-methylstyrene-N-[2-,(N ',N'-diethylamino )ethyl]- methacrylamide} copoly{styrene-l-[4-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl]maleimide} copoly{styrene -l-[4- (N,N-diethylamino)phenyl]maleimide} copoly{4- nitrostyrene-1-[4-(N,N-diethylaminomethy1)phenyl]- maleimide} copoly {styrene-l-[4-N,N- dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl]maleimide}, copoly{styrene-l-[4-(N,N-dimethylarninomethyl)benzyl]maleimide}, and the like.

Generally, these intermediate polymers are addition copolymers comprising at least 33 /3 mole percent of tertiary amine-containing units and preferably at least 50 mole percent, the remainder of the units being derived from other ethylenically unsaturated monomers.

Quaternization of tertiary nitrogen-containing groups in the interpolymer of the invention may be effected by using an alkylating agent which can be represented by the structure R X" wherein R is as defined above, and X is an anion such as monoalkyl sulfate, sulfonate, dialkyl phosphate, halide, etc. Examples of suitable R groups are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, and the like, benzyl, phenethyl, phenylpropyl, naphthylmethyl, naphthylpropyl, and the like. The quatemizing agent selected can depend, of course, on whether or not the nitrogen atom appended to the interpolymer chain already contains an aromatic nucleus attached thereto. The quaternization may be effected in a solvent such as water, acetone, benzene, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylacetamide, or an alcohol such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, 2-eth0xyethanol (Cellosolve), and the like. Generally, the quaternization is carried out to quaternize at least 33 :4: percent and preferably at least 50 percent of tertiary nitrogen atoms. Temperatures from room temperature to 125C. are generally used and if quaternization of only a part of the tertiary nitrogen atoms is desired, the amount of quatemizing agent may be reduced to corre- 5 0 to 66 and Y is 100 minus X;

LII

Copoly[sytrene: N-(3-acrylamidopropyl)-N,N- dimethyl-N-(4-nitrobenzyl)ammonium chloride].

Copoly[styrene: N-( 3-acrylamidopropyl)-N,N- dimethyl-N-( l-naphthylmethyl)ammonium chloride].

Copoly[styrene: N-( 3-maleimidopropyl)-N,N- dimethyl-N-(4-phenylbenzyl)ammonium chloride].

9 copoly[styrene-N-(4-maleimidomethylbenzyl)- N,N,N-trimethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate], copoly[styrene-N-benzyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-(4- maleimidomethylbenzyl)ammonium chloride], copoly[styrene-N-benzyl-N-carbamoylmethyl-N-(3- maleimidopropyl)-Nmethylammonium chloride], copoly[2-methyl-5vinylpyridine-l-benzyl-2-methyl- 5-vinylpyridinium chloride], copoly[styrene-N-benzyl-N ethoxycarbonylmethyl- N-(3-maleimidopropyl)-N-methylammonium chloride],

copoly[ styrene-Nbenzyl-N-cyanomethyl-N-( 3- maleimidopropyl)-N-methylammonium chloride].

The crosslinking agent which is either mixed with the polymer or coated onto a layer containing the polymer is a bisalkane or bisarene sulfonate having the formula:

R-SO CI-I YCH O-SO R wherein R is a lower alkyl group containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl and the like, or aryl such as phenyl, tolyl, naphthyl, p-chlorophenyl and the like; Y is an unsaturated divalent radical such as arylene or substituted arylene such as phenylene, naphthylene, or the like; unsaturated alkylene such as vinylene and ethynylene, and the like; heterylene such as pyridinediyl, furandiyl and the like.

It is understood that the terms alkyl and aryl as used herein include substituted alkyl and substituted aryl, such as chloroethyl, phenylbutyl, and the like.

The crosslinking agents of this invention may be formed by reacting an unsaturated diol such as 1,4- butynediol with an alkane sulfonyl chloride such as methanesulfonyl chloride in solvents such as acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, dichloromethane, 2,6- lutadine and the like. The reaction may be carried out at any temperature, but it is preferred to react the components at a temperature of from lOC. to 25C. The molar ratio of diol to sulfonyl halides are from about 1:2 to about 1:4. The general methods of preparing the crosslinking agents of this invention are reported in R. K. Crosland and K. L. Servis, J. Org. Chem., 35, 3196 (1970) and Eglinton and Whiting, J. Chem. Soc., 3650 (1950).

Some examples of bisulfonates useful herein are 1,4- butynediol dimesylate, p-xylene a,0z'-di0l dimesylate, cis-l,4-butenediol dimesylate, pyridine-2,6-dimethanol dimesylate, 1,4-butynediol ditosylate, furan-2,6- dimethanol bis(benzenesulfonate), and the like.

The dye mordant composition comprises from about 0.1 to about 20 weight percent bissulfonate crosslinking agent based on the total weight of bissulfonate and mordant polymer. In this respect, the polymer should be at least 0.25 percent unquaternized and preferably from about 0.25 to about 20 percent unquaternized on a molar basis.

Mordanting amounts of the novel crosslinked polymers of the invention can be employed as such from an aqueous or methanolic medium, or can be incorporated in water-permeable hydrophilic organic colloids or other polymeric binder materials. The resulting mixture can be used in the preparation of dye imbibition printing blanks, receiving layers for color transfer processes, such as those described in Land U.S. Pat. No. 3,362,819, Rogers U.S. Pat. No. 2,983,606, Whitmore U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,227,552 and 3,227,550, and in antihalation layers such as those described in Jones et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,282,699. Satisfactory binders used for this purpose include any of the hydrophobic binders generally employed in the photographic field including, for example, poly(vinyl acetate), cellulose acetate butyrate, poly(vinyl alcohol), and the like. Exemplary materials are disclosed in Product Licensing Index, Volume 92, December, 1971, publication 9232, page 108. In general, a mordanting amount of polymer can be employed in a dye mordanting or dye image-receiving layer. A binder can be used along with the polymeric mordant in the layer. The amount of dye mordant to be used depends on the amount of dye to be mordanted, the mordanted polymers, the imaging chemistry involved, etc, and can be determined easily by one skilled in this art. It is preferred that between 20 and percent by weight of polymer be used in the dye mordanting layers.

The dye image-receiving element can comprise a support having thereon a layer including the mordant composition of this invention. The element may also comprise other layers, such as a polymeric acid layer, and can also include a timing layer as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,362,819, or a light reflective interlayer com prising a light reflective white pigment such as TiO and a polymeric binder, in accordance with the teaching of Beavers and Bush U.S. Pat. No. 3,445,228.

Supports may be coated using any conventional coating procedure, such as dip-coating, roll-coating, and the like. Various methods of coating are described in Product Licensing Index, Volume 92, December, 1971, publication 9232, page 109.

Any support typically used for photographic elements may be coated, such as paper, plastic, polyester, such as poly( ethylene terephthalate) and the like. Various supports are listed in Product Licensing Index, Volume 92, December, 1971, publication 9232, page 108.

The mordanting compositions of this invention are also especially useful in light-filtering layers, such as in antihalation layers of the type disclosed in Jones and Milton U.S. Pat. No. 3,282,699. Here, the light-filtering layer preferably can comprise a hydrophilic colloid and the mordanting composition of this invention. The layer is adapted to contain a dye held or fixed by the mordanting composition.

In addition, the novel mordants of this invention can also be employed in integral negative-receiver photographic elements, such as those described in U.S. application Ser. No. 27,990 of Cole, filed Apr. 13, 1970, U.S. application Ser. No. 27,991 of Barr et al., filed Apr. 13, 1970 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,644, issued Dec. 10, 1968. In general, these integral photographic elements comprise a support having thereon a layer containing one or more of the novel mordants described herein and at least one photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer, the silver halide of which has contiguous thereto a dye image-providing material.

When a water-permeable colloid is used, the quantity of mordant employed can be varied, depending upon the particular mordant and its chemical characteristics, as well as the dyes to be fixed in the mordanting layer. In general, the quantity of mordant should be at least 10 percent by weight, based on the weight of hydrophilic colloid. Larger amounts of mordant can be employed in the hydrophilic colloid layers and amounts as high as 50 percent by weight, based on the weight of the hydrophilic colloid, give quite useful results.

The mordants can also be used for fixing the dyes, and particularly acid dyes, used in the preparation of photographic filter, antihalation and gelatino-silverhalide emulsion layers. Such layers can be coated on conventional photographic supports, such as flexible sheet supports (e.g., cellulose acetate, polyester films, polyvinyl resins, etc), or paper, glass, etc.

More than one of the mordanting polymers of this invention can be used together, in a single layer or in two or more layers. The mordanting polymers of this invention can also be used in admixture with other mordants in the same layer or in separate layers of the same element.

Whether the polymers be employed in a single layer or in two layers, it is preferred that the total coverage of the mordanting layer or layers be from to 55 mg/dm in order to satisfactorily act as a mordant.

The layers containing the crosslinked polymers of this invention can be prepared from not only aqueous systems, but also methanol or alkaline compatible systems as well.

Emulsions or compositions containing the interpolymers can be chemically sensitized with compounds of the sulfur group and/or noble metal salts (such as gold salts), reduction sensitzed with reducing agents, or any Green B Conc. (Colour Index 5), Brilliant Paper Yellow Ex. Conc. 125 percent (Colour Index 364), Tartrazine (Colour Index650), Metanil Yellow Conc. (Colour Index 138), Pontacyl Carmine 6B Ex. Conc. (Colour Index 57), Pontacyl Scarlet R. Conc. (Colour Index 487) and Pontacyl Rubine R Ex. Conc. (Colour Index 179).

This invention is further illustrated by the following examples.

EXAMPLE 1 A two-layer coating was prepared having the following structure, the numbers in parenthesis indicating the coverage in mg/dm. The layers were extrusion coated.

Layer 2:

Layer 1:

Polyester Film Support poly[styrene-r:o-l -(3-dimethylaminopropylmaleimide co-N-benzyl-N.N-dimcthyl-N- (3-maleimidopropyl)arnmoniurn chloride] prepared quaternization of pulylstyrene-co-N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-maleimide] with benzyl chloride, as described in U.S. Patent 3,709,690. The polymer was quaternized to the extent of 80.5 mole percent of the available amine and contained 50 mole percent styrene.

combination of these. Furthermore, emulsion layers and other layers present in photographic elements made according to this invention can be hardened with any suitable hardener such as aldehyde hardeners, aziridine hardeners, hardeners which are derivatives of dioxane, oxypolysaccharides such as oxystarch, oxy plant gums, and the like. The emulsion can also contain additional additives, particularly those known to be beneficial in photographic emulsions, including for example, stabilizers or antifoggants, particularly the watersoluble inorganic acid salts of cadmium, cobalt, manganese and zinc as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,829,404, the substituted triazindolizines as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,444,605 and 2,444,607, speed increasing materials, plasticizers and the like. Examples of these additives are found in Product Licensing Index, Volume 92, December 1971, publication 9232, pages 107-l l0.

Mordanted blanks treated in accordance with this invention are useful for receiving acid dyes from hydrophobic colloid relief images according to prior art techniques. Typical acid dyestuffs which can be transferred to the treated blanks of the invention are Anthracene Yellow GR (400 percent pure Schultz No. 177), Fast Red S Conc. (Colour Index 176), Ponta'cylGreen SN Ex. (Colour Index 737), Acid blue black (Colour Index 246), Acid Magenta 0 (Colour Index 692), Naphthol The crosslinking agent was incorporated with the polymer-pigment dispersion approximately 5 minutes before coating and crosslinking was carried out at temperatures of from F. to F. p

The hardness of the mordant-pigment layer was measured by washing the coatings with water at 22C and testing the coating to determine if the crosslinked structure was damaged. In the above case, the coating was tested 5 hours after coating and did not wash off even after vigorous rubbing.

The above mordanted element was compared to the same element wherein l,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (commercially available as Araldite RD-2, a trademark of Ciba Company), which is a commercially available hardener, was substituted as a crosslinking agent; The diglycidyl ether was used at a level of 0.27 mg/dm which is more than 3 times in excess of the amount used of the hardener of the present invention. The coating washed off readily when subjected to the hardness test.

EXAMPLE 2 The elements of Example 1 containing various levels of Araldite hardener were tested for hardness at different degrees of quaternization of the mordant polymer 5 hours after the coatings were prepared. The results are shown in Table I.

Table I exposed surface of the image-forming element and the Hardness of Mordant-Pigment Layer as Measured by Washing Araldite Level Dimesylate l-lardener Level Quaternization (mg/dm) (mg/dm) of Mordant Polymer 0.27 1.1 4.3 0.32 1.3

94.8 W W W W SW NW 91.6 W W W SW NW NW 87.0 W W W NW NW NW 80.5 W W SW NW NW NW W Washes oft readily SW Has some crosslinlred structure but washes off with rubbing NW Will not wash off with vigorous rubbing The above indicates the improved hardening due to the dimesylate of the invention even at levels less than 1/3 of the conventional hardener.

EXAMPLE 3 A series of receiving elements for a color development diffusion transfer system were prepared having the following structure and the coverage in mg/dm indicated in parenthesis:

superposed receiving element.

After 60 seconds at 24C, each dye-image receiving element was peeled apart from the negative.

The maximum densities (D,,,,,,) of the transferred dyes as measured both on freshly coated receivers and the corresponding receivers incubated for 14 days at 25C. and 42 percent relative humidity are shown in 25 Table II for the optimum levels of the hardeners which were 4.3 mg/dm for the epoxide and 0.32 mg/dm for the dimesylate hardener.

. Table II Effect of Hardeners on D Bisepoxide Hardener Dimesylate Hardener Layer 4 Gum arabic (2.2)

Layer 3 Gelatin (32) and the polymeric mordant of Example 1 Layer 2 Titanium dioxide (86), zinc oxide (6.5), hardener (varied) and polymeric mordant (26) Layer 1 Partially hydrolyzed low molecular weight poly(methyl-vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride) (220) dibutyl maleate (108), and a polyurethane elastomer (Estane 5711, manufactured by B. F. Goodrich Co.) (75) Support The polymeric mordant of Example 1.

Layer 3 was coated over layer 2 after 4 days aging at room temperature. The epoxide (Araldite) hardener described in Example 2 and dimesylate described in Example 2 were coated in layer 2 with the polymer at each of 94.8, 91.6 and 80.5 mole percent degrees of quaternization.

A multicolor photographic element of the type described in Example 9 of copending Thomas et al US. application Ser. No. 204,340, filed Dec. 2, 1971 was exposed to a multicolor test object. A processing composition comprised 40 g. potassium hydroxide, 40 g. 4- amino-N-ethyl-N-B-hydroxyethylaniline, 0.2 g. piperidino hexose reductone, 0.05 g. S-methylbenzimidazole, 0.01 g. l-phenyl-2-tetrazoline-5-thione and 22 g. hydroxyethylc ellulose was spread from a pod between the It is seen that the use of the dimesylate crosslinker of the present invention gave substantially higher D than did the bisepoxide hardener, especially at the highest levels of quaternization of the polymer. No significant difference between the hardeners was discerned with regard to sunlight stain. The level required of the dimesylate hardener was less than 1] 10 the level required of the bisepoxide.

EXAMPLE 4 A reactor was charged with a solution of 34.5 g. of p-xylene-a,d-diol and 66 g. of N,N- diisopropylethylamine in 400 ml. of tetrahydrofuran. To the solution was added, at less than 10C, 58.5 g. of methanesulfonyl chloride. After adding ml. benzene, the mixture was stirred for an additional halfhour and filtered. The final product was 56 g. of pxylene-a,a'-diol dimesylate having a melting point of l02104C.

The above crosslinker was substituted for the hard ener in layer 2 of Example 2 at levels of 0.32 and 1.3 mg/dm with a 91.8 percent mole quaternized polymer. The coatings did not wash off after washing with water 5 hours after the coating step.

EXAMPLE 3 The test of Example 4 wasrepeated for an element containing cis-2-butene-l ,4-diol dimesylate at levels of 0.32 and 1.3 mg/dm with a 91.8 percent quaternized polymer. The coatings did not wash off after washing with water at 22C 5 hours after the coating step.

EXAMPLE 6 The test of Example 4 was repeated for an element containing pyridine-2,6-dimethanol dimesylate at levels of 0.32 and 1.3 mg/dm with a 91.8 percent quaternized polymer. The coatings did not wash off after washing with water at 22C 5 hours after the coating step.

EXAMPLE 7 A series of receiving elements for color diffusion transfer were prepared as in Example 3 using the hardeners of Examples 1, 4, 5 and 6. The coatings were processed as in Example 3 with the same negative element and pod. The polymerused was quaternized to the exwherein R is alkyl or aryl and Y is an unsaturated divalent radical and b. a crosslinkable vinyl copolymer comprised of first repeating units and second repeating units, said first repeating units comprising at least one third of said vinyl copolymer and represented by the forwherein R and R are hydrogen atoms or alklyl groups and R can additionally be a groupcontaining at least one aromatic nucleus; Q is a divalent alkylene radical, a divalent arylene radical, a divalent aralkylene radical, a divalent arylenealkylene radical,

tent of 91.8 mole percent. The results of the sensito- 9 9 6 6 metric tests are shown in Table III. COR -OC-R or C-NHR Table III Sensitometric Comparison of Dimesylate Hardeners Amount of D ina:

Hardener Fresh Z-Week Incubation Hardener mg/dm Red Green Blue Red Green Blue Example 1 0.32 1.97 2.15 1.91 1.90 2.06 1.88 Example 1 1.3 1.98 2.15 1.90 1.89 2.04 1.83 Example 4 0.32 1.85 2.07 1.86 1.83 1.98 1.83 Example 4 1.3 1.92 2.10 1.90 1.90 2.04 1.82 Example 5 0.32 1.97 2.18 1.92 1.90 2.02- 1.77 Example 5 1.3 1.97 2.15 1.92 1.89 2.04 1.85 Example 6 0.32 1.94 2.14 1.95 1.88 2.03 1.84 Example 6 1.3 2.02 2.20 1.95 1.94 2.07 1.91

EXAMPLE 8 This is a comparative example. Two-layer coatings having the structure described in or R can be taken together with Q to form a Example 1 were prepared substituting the following hardeners for the dimesylate of Example 1.

a. 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)urea b. bis(2-chloroethylsulfonyl)methane c. N ,N-bis(chloroacetyl)hydrazine d. l,5-bis(mesyloxy)-3-oxapentane e. l,5-bis(mesyloxy)-3-methylpentane f. bis(2-mesyloxyethylsulfonylmethyl)ether g. 2,2-sulfonyldiethyl ditosylate h. l,3,5-tris( bromoacetyl)hexahydro-s-triazine i. l,4-bis(chloroacetyl)piperazine In all cases the coatings washed off readily when subjected to the water wash.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A photographic element comprising a support and at least one layer containing a dye mordant composition comprising the reaction product of:

a. a vinyl polymer crosslinking agent comprising a bisalkane or bisarene sulfonate having the formula: B SO C h Y-CI-I O-SO R group; wherein R is an alkylene radical, R, R and R are alkyl or aryl groups, or R and R and the nitrogen atom to which they are attached can, together with Q, represent the atoms and bonds necessary to form a quaternized nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring, and X is an anion; wherein said second repeating units are derived from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer which is substantially free of carboxyl groups.

2. The element of claim 1 wherein the positive saltforming radical of said vinyl polymer comprises at least two aryl groups for each quaternary nitrogen atom.

3. The element of claim 1 wherein the polymer is poly[styrene-co-N-benzyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-(3- maleimidopropyl)-ammonium chloride], and the crosslinking agent is 1,4-butynediol dimesylate.

4. The element of claim 1 comprising from about 0.1 to about 20 percent by weight of the crosslinking agent based on the total weight of the crosslinking agent and 5 polymer.

5. The element of claim 1 wherein the polymer is from 80 percent to about 99.75 percent quaternized. 6. A dye image receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye mordant layer which comprises a. a vinyl polymer crosslinking agent comprising a bisalkane or bisarene sulfonate having the formula: R-S0 -CH,YCl-l O-SO -R wherein R is alkyl or aryl and Y is an unsaturated divalent radical and b. a crosslinkable vinyl copolymer comprised of first repeating units and second repeating units, said first repeating units comprising at least one third of said vinyl copolymer and represented by the formula:

wherein R and R are hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups and R can additionally be a group containing at least one aromatic nucleus; Q is a divalent alkylene radical, a divalent arylene radical, a divalent aralkylene radical,

a divalent arylenealkylene radical,

group; wherein R is an alkylene radical, R, R and R are alkyl or aryl groups, or R and R and the nitrogen atom to which they are attached can, together with Q, represent the atoms and bonds necessary to form a quaternized nitrogencontaining heterocyclic ring; and X is an anion; wherein said second repeating units are derived from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer which is substantially free of carboxyl groups.

7. The dye image-receiving element of claim 6 wherein the positive salt-forming radical of said vinyl polymer comprises at least two aryl groups for each quaternary nitrogen atom.

wherein R and R are hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups and R can additionally be a group containing at least one aromatic nucleus; Q is a divalent alkylene radical,

a divalent arylene radical, a divalent aralkylene radical, a divalent arylenealkylene radical,

or R can be taken together with Q to form a group; wherein R is an alkylene radical, R", R and R are alkyl or aryl groups, or R and R and the nitrogen atom to which they are attached can, together with 0, represent the atoms and bonds necessary to form a quaternized nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring, and X" is an anion; wherein said second repeating units are derived from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer which is substantially free of carboxyl groups.

10. The element of claim 9 wherein the positive saltforming radical of said vinyl polymer comprises at least tyvo aryl groups for each quaternary nitrogen atom;

11. An integral negative receiver element comprising a support, and at least one layer containing at least one photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer containing the crosslinked polymeric mordant of claim I having contiguous thereto a dye image-providing material. 

1. A PHOTOGRAPHIC ELEMENT COMPRISING A SUPPORT AND AT LEAST ONE LAYER CONTAINING A DYE MORDANT COMPOSITION COMPRISING THE REACTION PRODUCT OF: A. A VINYL POLYMER CROSSLINKING AGENT COMPRISING A BISALKANE
 2. The element of claim 1 wherein the positive salt-forming radical of said vinyl polymer comprises at least two aryl groups for each quaternary nitrogen atom.
 3. The element of claim 1 wherein the polymer is poly(styrene-co-N-benzyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-(3-maleimidopropyl)-ammonium chloride), and the crosslinking agent is 1,4-butynediol dimesylate.
 4. The element of claim 1 comprising from about 0.1 to about 20 percent by weight of the crosslinking agent based on the total weight of the crosslinking agent and polymer.
 5. The element of claim 1 wherein the polymer is from 80 percent to about 99.75 percent quaternized.
 6. A dye image receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye mordant layer which comprises a. a vinyl polymer crosslinking agent comprising a bisalkane or bisarene sulfonate having the formula: R-SO3-CH2-Y-CH2O-SO2-R wherein R is alkyl or aryl and Y is an unsaturated divalent radical and b. a crosslinkable vinyl copolymer comprised of first repeating units and second repeating units, said first repeating units comprising at least one third of said vinyl copolymer and represented by the formula:
 7. The dye image-receiving element of claim 6 wherein the positive salt-forming radical of said vinyl polymer comprises at least two aryl groups for each quaternary nitrogen atom.
 8. The dye image-receiving element of claim 6 having a light reflective layer and the dye mordant layer.
 9. A photographic element comprising a support, a silver halide layer and a polymer composition comprising: a. a vinyl polymer crosslinking agent comprising a bisalkane or bisarene sulfonate having the formula: R-So3-CH2-Y-CH2O-SO2-R wherein R is alkyl or aryL and Y is an unsaturated divalent radical and b. a crosslinkable vinyl copolymer comprised of first repeating units and second repeating units, said first repeating units comprising at least one third of said vinyl copolymer and represented by the formula:
 10. The element of claim 9 wherein the positive saltforming radical of said vinyl polymer comprises at least two aryl groups for each quaternary nitrogen atom.
 11. An integral negative receiver element comprising a support, and at least one layer containing at least one photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer containing the crosslinked polymeric mordant of claim 1 having contiguous thereto a dye image-providing material. 